Basketball backboard and goal structure

ABSTRACT

A pre-mounted fold-up basketball backboard and goal structure includes a molded fiber glass backboard with a network of reinforcing ribs on the rear surface of the backboard to strengthen the backboard and eliminate dead spots. The goal structure includes a hoop or rim with a support frame fixedly connected to the hoop and hinged to a base plate assembly which is secured to the backboard. The hinged connection of the hoop with the base plate assembly enables the hoop to be folded parallel to the backboard for shipment of the assembled hoop and backboard in a thin container. When erected for use, reinforcing rods extending from the hoop are secured to the base plate assembly by a clamping plate.

United States Patent [191 Matras et al.

[ Jan. 29, 1974 BASKETBALL BACKBOARD AND GOAL STRUCTURE [75] Inventors: Earl L. Matras; Frank D. Matras;

Donald J. Her-ad, all of Milwaukee, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Frabill Manufacturing Co.,

Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: May 18, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 254,364

[52] US. Cl. .1 273/15 R, 248/291 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wheeler, Morsell, House & Wheeler [5 7] ABSTRACT A pre-mounted fold-up basketball backboard and goal structure includes a molded fiber glass backboard with a network of reinforcing ribs on the rear surface of the backboard to strengthen the backboard and eliminate dead spots. The goal structure includes a hoop or rim with a support frame fixedly connected to the hoop and hinged to a base plate assembly which is secured to the backboard. The hinged connection of the hoop with the base plate assembly enables the hoop to be folded parallel to the backboard for shipment of the assembled hoop and backboard in a thin container. When erected for use, reinforcing rods extending from the hoop are secured to the base plate assembly by a clamping plate.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BASKETBALL BACKBOARD AND GOAL STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Fiber glass or glass reinforced polyester backboards are preferred over wood because they are essentially maintenance free, they do not chip, peel or rust, and require no repainting particularly if the color is molded into the board. However, fiber glass boards do not have the rigidity of steel or plywood boards. It is also desirable to have a board with a pre-mounted goal which folds flat for shipment in a thin container and which is readily erected to the playing position.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a molded fiber glass backboard in which a network of intersecting ribs is superposed on a rectangular grid of reinforcing ribs on the rear face of the backboard to rigidify the board and eliminate dead spots. Some of the ribs radiate from reinforced mounting apertures and extend to a marginal flange along the periphery of the board.

The goal structure includes a two-part base plate assembly with a flat rear plate adapted to abut the backboard and a forward plate or hinge plate welded to the rear plate and which includes a channel which pivotally holds the hinge pin formed by the ends of a hinge loop which is welded to the hoop or rim. The forward plate also includes an out-turned flange at the lower edge which locates and supports the bight of a support bracket which has two legs welded to the hoop or rim. A clamping plate has an offset transverse channel, which cooperates with the out-turned flange to capture or encircle the bight of the support bracket to lock the rim in the playing position.

Inasmuch as the hinge plate is welded or otherwise secured to the base plate, the hoop is permanently hinged to the base plate assembly and can be folded upwardly and flat against the backboard for shipment. In addition, if the hoop assembly is shipped separately of the backboard, the base plate assembly can be pivoted with respect to the hoop so that the base plate assembly is parallel with a plane through the hoop.

Further objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the backboard and goal structure in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view in fragmentary section of the basketball backboard and goal structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the backboard shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the backboard and goal structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of some of the parts shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 are respectively front and rear views of a backboard 8 showing a preferred construction in which the backboard 8 is preferably made of fiber glass permanently molded of a solid color which is preferably white with an orange target area 7 which can be silk screened on the fiber glass. If made of fiber glass as preferred, this backboard is extremely strong having a specification tensile strength of I 1,000 pounds PSI, a flexural strength of 22,000 PSI and a temperature range of approximately to 120 F. Its water absorption is less than one-half of 1 percent over a period of seven years, and its color is permament as molded.

Referring to FIG. 3, the rear face 10 of the backboard is provided with four reinforced mounting apertures 12 which extend through integrally molded fiber glass bosses 14 having an axial thickness greater than the thickness of the sheet 16 (FIG. 2). The apertures 12 are employed to connect the backboard to a mounting bracket which supports the backboard from a roof, wall, etc. To strengthen the backboard, the sheet 16 includes at the lower portion of the backboard two spaced ribs 20. Reinforced apertures 22 extending through bosses 24 receive four mounting bolts for mounting the goal structure to the backboard 8 as subsequently described.

The integrally molded reinforcing rib structure includes a rectangular pattern 23 of ribs which radiate from and interconnect the bosses 14 and terminate in juncture with an integrally molded marginal flange 18. The panels 25 defined by the rectangular pattern 23 are further rigidified by a network of ribs 27 which radiate from the bosses l4 and merge with the flange 18. Some of the ribs 27 intersect centrally of the panels 25. Double parallel ribs 30 and 32 at the bottom of the board add strength to the lower portion of the board from which the goal structure is supported.

The goal structure includes the hoop or rim 36, which is provided with the usual rams horn books 38 for suspending the net (not shown). A generally rectangular hinge member or loop 40 includes a pair of spaced legs 42 and 44 which are interconnected by a web 46 which has a curve complementary to the rim 36 and is welded to the rim at 48. The leg portions 42 and 44 have in-turned spaced ends 50 and 52 (FIG. 5) which provide a hinge pin for pivotally connecting the rim to a base plate assembly 54 as presently described.

The base plate assembly 54 includes a rectangular fiat rear plate 56 which abuts the backboard 8 and a front plate or hinge plate 58 which includes a transverse channel 60 which together with the base plate 54 captures the ends 50 and 52 to pivotally connect the hinge loop 40 to the base plate assembly 54 and the backboard. The plate 54 is spot welded at various locations to permanently assemble the hinge loop in pivotal connection with the rear plate 56. A reinforcing plate 66 can also be welded between the legs 42 and 44 to provide additional rigidity.

The hinge connection of the rim to the backboard enables the rim 36 to be pivoted or folded into the broken line position shown in FIG. 4 for the purpose of shipping the preassembled goal and backboard in a relatively thin package. When the hoop 36 and backboard 8 are shipped assembled, the base plate assembly 54 is secured to the backboard 8 by two bolts 70 and 72.

When the pre-assembled goal is unfolded for use, it is secured in the playing position by a clamping plate 80. The The clamping plate has a rearwardly open channel portion 82 which receives the bight 74 of a support bracket 81. The support bracket 81 includes legs 76 and 78 which have ends 83 welded to the hoop 36. When the clamping plate is assembled, the lower flange 86 of the clamping plate 80 is located beneath the ledge or out-turned lip 88 on the base plate assembly 54 to rigidify the lip 88. The clamping plate 80 is secured to the base plate assembly 54 with two bolts 90, 81 which extend through apertures 92 in the clamping plate 80 and apertures 94 in the base plate assembly. As shown in FIG. 3, anchor plate 98 with four apertures to receive the bolts 70, 72 and 90 can be employed to provide a firm base for the nuts 100 and firmly secure the goal structure to the backboard.

What is claimed is:

1. A basketball goal structure comprising a hoop, a support bracket having legs fixedly connected to said hoop, a base plate assembly including a rear plate engagable with the front surface of a backboard and a hinge plate superposed on said rear plate, said hinge plate having a transverse channel enclosed by said rear plate, said hinge plate having an outwardly extending lip at the lower end thereof, a movable hinge member fixed to said hoop and having an end pivotally confined in said channel, said support bracket including a bight portion interconnecting said legs, a detachable clamping plate having a channel for capturing the bight of said support bracket, said clamping plate including a lower flange, said lower flange defining in part said channel, apertures in said clamping plate registerable with apertures in said base plate assembly with said lower flange projecting beneath said lip to completely encircle said bight of said support bracket and clamp said bight securely against said hinge plate, and rigidify said lip, and bolts extending through said apertures for clamping said clamping plate to said base plate assembly to secure said bight of said support bracket against movement and for securing said base plate assembly to a backboard.

2. A basketball goal structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said channel of said hinge plate has a width less than said base plate and wherein said channel of said clamping plate has a width less than said hinge plate.

3. A basketball goal structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hinge member has a curved portion complementary to said hoop with said curved portion welded to said hoop.

4. A basketball goal structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hinge member is a length of rod and said end of said hinge member in said channel comprises the ends of said rod.

5. The basketball goal structure of claim 1 in combination with a fiber glass backboard, said backboard having reinforced apertures registerable with apertures in said base plate assembly, bolts extending through said apertures for securing said goal structure to said backboard.

6. The combination of claim 5 including an anchor plate abutting said reinforced apertures on the side of said backboard opposite the side engaged by said base plate assembly, and bolts and nuts for clamping said anchor plate against said backboard.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein the rear surface of said backboard has a plurality of integrally molded reinforcing ribs to eliminate dead spots. 

1. A basketball goal structure comprising a hoop, a support bracket having legs fixedly connected to said hoop, a base plate assembly including a rear plate engagable with the front surface of a backboard and a hinge plate superposed on said rear plate, said hinge plate having a transverse channel enclosed by said rear plate, said hinge plate having an outwardly extending lip at the lower end thereof, a movable hinge member fixed to said hoop and having an end pivotally confined in said channel, said support bracket including a bight portion interconnecting said legs, a detachable clamping plate having a channel for capturing the bight of said support bracket, said clamping plate including a lower flange, said lower flange defining in part said channel, apertures in said clamping plate registerable with apertures in said base plate assembly with said lower flange projecting beneath said lip to completely encircle said bight of said support bracket and clamp said bight securely against said hinge plate, and rigidify said lip, and bolts extending through said apertures for clamping said clamping plate to said base plate assembly to secure said bight of said support bracket against movement and for securing said base plate assembly to a backboard.
 2. A basketball goal structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said channel of said hinge plate has a width less than said base plate and wherein said channel of said clamping plate has a width less than said hinge plate.
 3. A basketball goal structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hinge member has a curved portion complementary to said hoop with said curved portion welded to said hoop.
 4. A basketball goal structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hinge member is a length of rod and said end of said hinge member in said channel comprises the ends of said rod.
 5. The basketball goal structure of claim 1 in combination with a fiber glass backboard, said backboard having reinforced apertures registerable with apertures in said base plate assembly, bolts extending through said apertures for securing said goal structure to said backboard.
 6. The combination of claim 5 including an anchor plate abutting said reinforced apertures on the side of said backboard opposite the side engaged by said base plate assembly, and bolts and nuts for clamping said anchor plate against said backboard.
 7. The combination of claim 5 wherein the rear surface of said backboard has a plurality of integrally molded reinforcing ribs to eliminate dead spots. 